Shell convicted of contempt of court order

Shell convicted of contempt of order


SHELL EP Ireland was last week found in contempt of a District Court order granted at Belmullet District Court in November 2007.
The original order was made by Judge Mary Devins (pictured) after Ms Monica Muller, and 25 others, brought a case under the provisions of Section 26 of the Gas Act 1976. They claimed they had not received proper notice of Shell’s intention to carry out exploratory works on the Rossport commonage.
The modified pipeline route for the controversial Corrib gas project runs through this commonage.
Subsequently Ms Monica Muller of Rossport South took a civil action against the company, claiming it had breached the order on four different occasions.
Her case was initially heard in Achill District Court, during May last, when Ms Muller sought a committal order, citing  a number of breaches when RPS personnel – the route consultants – entered the lands.
At this partial hearing, Mr John Gordon, counsel for Shell, said the company had acquired a share in the Rossport commonage in the interim and that Ms Muller had been advised of this. Mr Gordon argued that it was after this date that the consultants entered the lands.  
The hearing was adjourned until June 26 last to allow Mr Gerry Costello, a Project Director for Shell, to give evidence.   
At the court sittings evidence was also given that Shell had applied to An Bord Pleanála for a Compulsory Acquisition Order (CAO) for lands under the Gas Act 1976. In anticipation of the CAO being granted, Shell said inspections of the lands were necessary.
 However, Shell did not appeal Judge Devins’s court order.
The matter was adjourned for determination to Westport District Court on September 17 next.